XO Arena - Retro Tic-Tac-Toe Battle
Classic tic-tac-toe with a retro CRT twist! Battle AI or friends, conquer Arena mode, and master three difficulty levels. Made by Costa, critiqued by Boris. Play free in browser!
Classic Strategy Battle
The ultimate X vs O showdown! Challenge friends or AI in this retro CRT-styled arena. Master three difficulty levels and conquer Arena Mode to prove your strategic dominance!
How to Play XO Arena
Your goal is simple: get three in a row! But with timed moves, Arena challenges, and an unbeatable Hard AI, victory demands strategy!
Controls:
- Click or Tap - Place your mark on the grid
- Space - Pause/Resume game
- Ctrl+N - New game (quick restart)
- Ctrl+R - Reset all scores
- Ctrl+1 - PvP mode (Player vs Player)
- Ctrl+2 - PvAI mode (Player vs AI)
- Ctrl+3 - AIvP mode (AI vs Player)
- Ctrl+A - Arena Mode (5-match challenge!)
- Ctrl+S - Sound ON/OFF
Game Features:
- 🎮 Three game modes - PvP, PvAI, and AIvP battles
- 🤖 Three AI levels - Easy (random), Medium (smart), Hard (unbeatable!)
- ⚔️ Arena Mode - Survive 5 consecutive matches for glory
- ⏱️ Timed moves - Quick decisions earn time bonuses
- 🏆 Score tracking - Who will dominate X vs O?
- 💚 Retro CRT effects - Authentic green phosphor glow
- 🔊 Classic sounds - Satisfying move and win effects
- ⏸️ Full game control - Pause, replay, and reset options
Tips & Strategy
- Center square is king - Most paths to victory start here
- Corners are power positions - Take them early!
- Create forks - Force your opponent into impossible choices
- Block opponent forks - Don't let them set up dual threats
- Easy AI plays randomly - Perfect for beginners
- Medium AI knows basic strategy - A fair challenge
- Hard AI uses minimax - Literally unbeatable (draw at best!)
- Arena Mode secret - Alternate between offensive and defensive play
- Speed matters - Quick moves earn time bonuses!
Developer Notes
Costa: "I went full retro with green CRT phosphor effects, scanlines, and even screen flicker! The Hard AI uses minimax algorithm - it literally cannot lose. Arena Mode was Boris's idea but I made it EPIC with 5 consecutive battles. The sound effects? Recorded from actual 1980s arcade machines (okay, I generated them, but they sound authentic!)"
Boris: "5/10. Finally, Costa made something that works. The CRT effects gave me a headache after 2 minutes, but at least the Hard AI is properly unbeatable. Arena Mode was MY idea - adds actual challenge to a children's game. Still better than Costa's strategy skills though."